AUSTRALIAN spirit was alive and well at Irymple yesterday.
A sea of more than 250 revellers, many of them decked out in the red, white and blue of the Australian flag, enjoyed the annual Australia Day breakfast at Irymple’s Henshilwood Oval.
Event MC Max Thorburn walked around telling jokes to friends and families while they hopped into a barbecue breakfast.
Mr Thorburn even revealed it was the birthday of a Mildura Rural City councillor Nick Cavallo, who replied: “Yes, I turn 51 today.”
“Australia Day is more and more becoming a special day where we start to recognise our roots and privileged lifestyle,” Cr Cavallo said.
“It is great to travel, but always fantastic to come home because it is then we realise we have in the luckiest place in the world to live.”
Cr Cavallo presented Irymple’s Citizen of the Year award to Rick Heness who has devoted 20 years to leading youth at Irymple’s Scout Group.
“We steer the youth of today away from society’s bad influences – drugs and alcohol,” he said.
“Scouting helps reinforce their public awareness of who people are, unlike some yahoos who like to bash people up just because they’ve had a gut full of grog.”
Mr Heness, who also served in the Australian army from 1968 to 1988, said: “This is a day when I remember some of mates who passed away in Vietnam – they fought for the Australian flag.
“I also think of our troops in Afghanistan and those involved in other UN duties.”
Member for Mildura Peter Crisp applauded Mr Heness’ work with Irymple scouts, particularly his service to cubs.
“Rick has helped make several generations of wonderful people through the effort he has put in,” he said.
“It is good to see that rewarded – we have many people like him working year in and year out to help make us a wonderful community.
“I spent 10 years of my life as a scout in Dareton and have been to their Tapio camp – scouting is an exciting organisation to be a part of.”
Mr Crisp said reflection and resilence were at the forefront of Australia Day celebrations in Irymple.
“Irymple was a splendid example of that during the floods,” he said.
“When the floods happened in Irymple about a year ago, the community was tested and being Australian was tested.
“People were called on to help their neighbour, to care and to do the things that had to be done, but were not necessarily their responsibility.
“Our strength as Australians is that we take what comes at us and we smile about it.”
Mr Crisp said he was pleaased with the big breakfast provided by the Irymple Lions Club.
“It wouldn’t be Australia Day without a bacon, egg and sausage breakfast,” he said.
Dedicated Irymple Lions club members of 30 years Alan Albrecht and Gordon Woithe were up at the crack of dawn to prepare for the breakfast.
“Australia Day is all about the birth of Australia – I’m grateful for my ancestory,” Mr Albrecht said.
Heartfelt renditions of Australian hits, including G’day, G’day and Home Among The Gum Trees, were performed by local singers, Sammy Miller, Ally Bourke, Hannah Bryans, Annie Stone and Cassie Lapthorn.
This article appeared in Friday's Sunraysia Daily 27/1/2012.
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